Collapsible tube cap



Aug. 15, 1933. w 1,922,999

COLLAPS IBLE TUBE CAP Filed July 22, 1952 Z759. ffy? fhomasflZzLZZ tamsINVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'COLLAPSIBLETUBE CAP Thomas Williams, New Castle, Pa.

Application July 22, 1932. Serial No. 624,093

3 Claims. (Cl. 221-60) This invention relates to' caps or closures forcollapsible tubes and like containers and has for the primary object,the provision of a device of the above stated character which willefficiently exclude dirt and other foreign matter from the interior ofthe tube and prevent evaporation of the contents of said tube and whichmay be easily and quickly moved to open the tube and still remainattached thereto for preventing loss or displacement of the cap.

With this and other objects in view, this invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following descriptionand accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 isa side elevation illustrating a collapsible tube with a cap appliedthereto and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation taken at right angles to Figure1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the cap in anopened position.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the dischargeneck.

Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating means of anchoring a gasket inthe cap.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form ofmy invention in which the gasket is anchored to the discharge neck.

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of cap.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing a modified form ofsecuring means of the gasket to the discharge neck.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates aconventional type of collapsible tube and has formed integrallytherewith a discharge neck 2 of substantially rectangular shape in crosssection and the top wall thereof is provided with a discharge opening 3whereby the contents of the tube may be dispensed in the usual manner.

Opposite faces of the neck 2 have formed therein substantially V-shapedgrooves 4 to be engaged by inwardly extending projections 5 formed on'the side walls 6 of a closure or cap 7. The V- shaped grooves 4 form inthe neck 2 locking shoulders 8 which are engaged by the projections 5 tosecure the cap in position for closing the opening 3. A gasket9 ismounted against the top wall of the cap between the side walls 6 thereoffor engagement with the top wall of the neck. The gasket 9 isconstructed of yieldable material such as spongy rubber and is adaptedto yield when the projections 5 are moved into engagement with theshoulders 8 and the natural expansible qualities of the gasket againstthe top wall of the neck have a tendency to retain the projections 5against the shoulders 8, consequently retaining the cap in a position toefiiciently seal the opening 3.

The cap is offset as shown at 9' to fit in a slot of the gasket 9 toprevent displacement thereof. The discharge neck is provided withgrooves 10' to receive the projections 5 to aid in guiding the latterinto the grooves 4 during the application of the cap to the neck.

The side walls 6 of the cap taper toward the projections 5 and said sidewalls also are offset and roughened to form finger grips 10.

The gasket 9 may be secured to the neck instead of the cap as shown byeither Figures 7 or 9. The projections 5 may be shaped as shown inFigure 8.

To release the cap from a closed position, the top wall of the top ispressed downwardly, compressing the gasket and the projections 5 aremoved laterally out of engagement with the shoulders 8, permitting thecap to be swung or tilted to one side of the neck as shown in Figure 3.The cap when in this position allows the contents of the tube 1 to befreely dispensed with the cap still attached to the neck so as toprevent displacement or loss thereof.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A cap for tubes comprising a neck of rectangular shape in crosssection and having a discharge opening, a closure consisting of top andside walls to fit over the neck for closing the discharge opening, saidneck having in opposite faces thereof V-shaped grooves formingshoulders, and projections on the side walls of the closure element andfitting in said grooves to slidably connect the closure element to theneck and adapted to engage the shoulders for drawing the top wall of theclosure element towards the discharge opening in the neck.

2. A cap for tubes comprising a neck of rectangular shape in crosssection and having a discharge opening, a closure consisting of top andside walls to fit over the neck for closing the discharge opening, saidneck having in opposite faces thereof V-shaped grooves formingshoulders, projections on the side walls of the closure element andfitting in said grooves to slidably connect the closure element to theneck and adapted to engage the shoulders for drawing the top wall of theclosure element towards the discharge opening in the neck, and ayieldable gasket mounted between the top and side walls of the closureelement to engage the neck.

3. A cap for tubes comprising a neck of rectangular shape in crosssection and having a discharge opening, a closure consisting of top andside walls to fit over the neck for closing the discharge opening, saidneck having in opposite faces thereof V-shapcd grooves formingshoulders, projections on the side walls of the closure element andfitting in said grooves to slidably connect the closure element to theneck and adapted to engage the shoulders for drawing the top wall of theclosure element towards the discharge opening in the neck, a yieldablegasket mounted between the top and side walls of the closure element toengage the neck, said side walls of the closure element being offset androughened to form finger pieces.

THOMAS WILLIAMS.

